I'm thinking about picking up a set of these for the rear of my car in 265/40R17.

I can't really find any good or bad opinions on these tires... is anyone running them? Do you like them? Any suggestions for a tire in that specific size, or possibly a 255/40R17?

Thanks,
Nick

 

Don't know if they will be good or bad. All the reviews except for one rate them pretty good for an inexpensive tire. The one bad review sez they were so bad they never made it on his car---up to 48 lbs of wheel force out of balance, this is a fairly old review (about 8-10 months). Otherwise they rate and are reviewed as good as or better than Yokohomas, Kuhmba (?), Toyos etc. and better than almost all non-exotics (BFG, Goodyears, Generals etc) for less than half the price of a Bridgestone Potenza S0-3. That's actually a lot to say for a Y rated tire. The tread pattern is real exotic and looks like it would work well both on the track and street. Might be worth a try for the bucks!

 

yeah, i read that review on epinions about them being 48 lbs out of whack... I wish someone else would review them... I'm sure that if I got some CRAP like that in the mail, it would be an easy return... I think I'm going to give em a try... they're just going on the rear for now... I may replace the fronts with a smaller variant of the tire if I end up liking them (God, I hate running 2 different kinds of tires, but oh well... you gotta do what you gotta do ) I have 4 Bridgestone Potenza RE71s that have about 3000 miles on them, Thats what I have on the front right now. They aren't the best tire in the world, far from it, but I've been happy with them so far... I just need more meat in the back.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Check the Falken website for a local retailer. By the way the Falken site absolutely ROCKS (need Flash). Sears handles Falkens. You can do almost as well or better from the local retailer as you can from Tire rack (counting the cost shipping and installation). When I was looking for tires I was quoted a price that was less that $10 per set more expensive locally than Tire Rack when you added shipping and local mounting (right at $480 for (4) 225 ZR 50/16s Y rates with mounting, balancing, new valves stems, road hazard, and the Illinois disposal fee) and I didn't have to screw around with shipping, if they were bad. Who knows I still might try them.

 

Just for the hell of it, I called Sears. They do carry them, but they are $152.99 a piece... I asked how much to mount and balance two of them and they said that their machine can't do anything over a 16" rim.... LOSERS!!!

 

Man that totally sucks. Not like I would expect anything from Sears. Just for grins I can check with the guys here in Carbondale. Let me know what size you would want and I can see what they charge installed etc. That way you would have something to go off of.

 

I called the peoria store, just for the hell of it, and found out that they can mount the tires... they run, get this, for 2 of them, mounted and balanced... $493.28.

Ug.

Mail order here I come.... especially with discount tires running free shipping right now!

 

I was in the same boat and decided to go ahead and try the Falkens, figuring that I could always dump them on eBay if they sucked.

I was actually very surprised. Better dry grip than the BFG that was on before, and they have very predictable break away points. Wet was also much better than I expected.

The only thing I have been disappointed with is that they tend to track in freeway grooves.

But I am using the 225/50/16 on a FC rather than a FD, so take my review with that grain.

 

If on a budget, go with the Yokohama AVS Intermediates in 255/40-17. They're $103 each from the Tire Rack. Excellent tires for the money!

 

No FD here either bud!!! FC 4 Life!

 

I always thought it was your suspension setting that does that. When NTB screwed up the alignment that I asked for and put 0 toe on the front, it was like driving a sedan ... kinda cool for daily driving. Once back to the 1/16" toe out, I was back to riding the grooves in I-35. Maybe I'm smoking crack ...

There's a guy in our auto-x club with the Falkens on his Integra Type R (yes, it's a REAL Type R), and he says he loves them. Rumor is that they're good tires ... again, rumor is.

 

I don't think so, as I have only had three tires that had the problem on FCs. The old Gaterback, the old P7, and the new Falkens.

The same rim and suspension, with the only change being the tire. I think its more related to the rain groove in the tires, and the differences in the tire compound from outside to inside.

I am sure you could re-adust the suspension to lessen the effect, but you might give up grip and tire wear because of it.

It may also lessen when the tires are worn a little further as so far I have only put about 1000 miles on them.

 

According to the guy here in Carbondale Falken 451s are now backordered for at least 3-4 weeks due to remanufacturing their molds. Supposed to give improved sidewall stability and more even wear.

 

Well, if you have to have tires right now, there are alternate choices:

1) Bridgestone Potenza S-03's - $201/tire (265/40)
2) Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP - $188/tire (255/40)
3) BFG g-Force KDW - $149/tire (255/45)
4) Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 - $115/tire (265/40)

The top three I KNOW are good tires with a lot of grip. Mixed reviews from the Kumho's and I've never driven/ridden in a car using them. But cheap for the size you want. Yokohama A032R's are good too, but I can't seem to find pricing for them. Happy hunting ...